Hunting with Harry - Danny Bajt 2009
First Hunt (Rabbits):
For the parent bow hunters out their, deciding when to take the young ones out can be a difficult choice.
If you take them out and they hate it because they don’t understand it, your opportunity is lost, or real difficult to get back. Or they could be fine with the whole thing, then they see blood and its over.
Harrison (Harry) has been around hunting his whole life and often plays with my gear and trophies. I taught him to red deer roar at the age of two, now he and his younger sister have great fun roaring with paper towel tubes.
Harry’s been shooting a bow since two as well. First I made a bow out of electrical conduit and a piece of string, I gave him a bunch of assorted arrows from the previous century and showed him the basics.
Little tigers pick up new skills quickly and when I tried to teach Harry something new, I got put in my place and was told that “I know what I’m doing dad!” He’s a pretty good shot so I didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Harry and I would watch my hunting DVD’s and flick through my hunting magazines and photo albums as part of his bow hunting education.
In 2009 I decided it was time to take Harry on his first bow hunt. Rabbits were the target and my mates Batesy’s and his brother Mark had a place close to home. When I suggested the idea to Harry, he was extremely excited and wanted to go right away. I tried to tell him that Batesy has to call the farmer first to see if it’s OK to come out.
From a kids perspective and hour wait may as well be forever. I took a gamble by packing our gear as a distraction from the consistent “ When’s Batesy going to call dad!” which could have turned out really ugly. So it was with great relief when Batesy called to say it was on and that we’d meet at 2pm.
I figured Harry would need supplies so I packed enough gear for the weekend (even though this was a 3 hr hunt). I had extra clothes in case he was too cold, drinks, chips, and confectionaries. He also definitely need to wear my small binoculars (which he now claims as his) and of course his bow.
We got to Batesys place and the brothers loaded here gear into my truck. Mark need to pop into a mates place to collect his bow. By now Harry was getting frustrated as were weren’t hunting yet and all these OLD guys were standing around talking about the very thing we should be doing, hunting!
Finally, we got to the property and the brothers popped in to say G’day to the farmer.
“WHAT…. WE HAVE TO WAIT SOMEMORE”! Was Harry’s protest,
“yes buddy these things take time and its called respect to say hi to the farmer, we need to maintain good relations with the farmers so that we can hopefully continue to get access to their properties in the future” was my explanation. But it was all blah, blah, blah to this keen upcoming little hunter.
Fortunately as soon as we drove through the first gate we saw goats with kids, cattle, sheep with lambs and a variety of birds. This kept to little fella happy, with he’s head out the window sucking up the delightful aromas of country air.
At last we parked the truck and got organised for THE HUNT. The drive from the property to home is about a 15 min drive but to a four year old its was hours.
Each of us with our backpacks headed through the gate, the hunt had began with rabbits zipping this way and that it was going to be difficult to hunt these things, particularly with Harrison calling out “There’s goes one”.
We decided to see if we could call in a fox, getting ourselves ready, Batesy let out a series of calls which managed to serenade in a big feral cat, unfortunately the cat beat us on this occasion, but Harrison did watch the footage immediately of the cat (numerous times) so he’s excitement was now heightened.
We split up with the brother taking one side of the creek and father and son team the other. “Dad, I’m thirst”
“OK mate well stop for a drink” We’d only gone 100m and I needed to remind myself this trip is for Harrison so make it enjoyable so that he’ll want to come again.
Within minutes of setting off after the drink stop, Harry’s shoe laces got caught on the blackberries and needed re-tying.
I was really proud of his stealth, Harrison only whispered and walked where dad walked. We both crawled on hands and knee through tunnels of tee tree and black berry in some places just for fun and climbed mountains (small hill like bumps in the earth)
At the next rest stop Harry ate the chips and confectionaries and the last of the drinks. The game animals didn’t read the script very well and so we headed back to the truck. At the base of the hill to the truck I heard “Dad I’m tired”, telling myself to keep it fun for him I crouched down (with protesting knees) and told him to jump on.
We powered up the hill for the first ten steps then I thought I should stead my pace otherwise Harry will have to piggy back me to the truck, fortunately we both made it, my knees, thighs and lungs weren’t too happy with me but, Harry had arrived safely and to my knowledge was still having fun.
I’d hoped that one of us could have harvested something to complete the picture for Harry. Sure he’s seen the DVD’s but to experience it first hand is often a life long memory that awakens and cements our hunting instinct.
Second hunt (Goats):
My father in law (Chris) his son Ben and I decided it was time to take Harry on his first goat hunt in Aug 2009. In the Canberra region goats = hills, and hills and four year old kids don’t always get along, but we figured if we take it slow and steady all will be well.
I wanted to ask Harry if he wanted to hunt goats, but I was apprehensive as I knew I would receive an unrelenting “When are going dad ?” question fest.
I was just as excited as he was when I asked him. I mentioned that it’s going to be a longer drive than the rabbit hunt and that the hills would be bigger.
To commemorate the occasion I went to the local camping store and brought Harry a whistle, mini compass, and compact rain coat and presented the items to him after pre-school on the Friday. We talked about each item and when and how to use it. Upon receiving an instance headache, the first rule was the whistle was for outdoor use ONLY! With dinner and the bath ruoten out of the way, Harry only had one sleep to go and we were off on our goat hunt.
Upon waking him up the next morning at 6am, Harry asked “Are we were going hunting ?”, I smiled and said yes and that we need to get changed as Granddad and Ben would be here soon to pick us up.
When to door bell rang, the dogs barked and Harrison flew to the door and yelled
“Granddad’s here to take us hunting”, all the while my wife and daughter were TRYING to sleep. We slipped out of the house, loaded our gear and into granddads truck and set off on our next adventure.
We eventually pulled up at one of the little country towns for breakfast on a way to the property. Harry decided on a breakfast of champions, which consisted off half a sausage roll with sauce, a donut and a chocolate milk.
We continued to the property and Harry was relieved to finally see the first gate to the property. We could see goats immediately and I had a good feeling about this trip. Nine gates later and we finally got to the house and said g’day to the farmer. Knowing this was going to take some time I set up his bow and told him if he got bored he could practice his shooting, which he did.
Usually we leave the truck just off the truck at the bottom of the hill, but we knew the hills would be hard for a four year, so we drove up as far as we could (about half way). It was a fairly steep hill so this was a good move.
Knowing this was going to be a slow day I suggested that both of the father and son teams split up and we’d meet back at the truck at lunch time..ish.
Harrison and I had climbed 30m when I heard……”Dad I’m tired” I couldn’t believe it, I could still see the truck!
“Come on buddy we‘ve only just left the truck”
So he soldiered on for another four steps. “Dad I’m tired, can we stop ?”
I looked around and checked the wind direction, yep this looks good for a whistle I thought to myself.
“OK buddy, you sit here have a drink and I’ll just walk over to that tree (10m away and try and whistle a fox. Now remember keep super still, if you see a fox coming towards dad”
After reaching the tree I turned around to Harry and gave him the thumbs up, my little hunting mate was having a rest and drink so I began to whistle.
Keeping still and only moving my head slowly I heard a sound behind me, its happened to me before where foxes have circled around and approach from behind, Slowly I turned to see Harry stalking me. I reminded myself that this hunt is for Harry.
I decided that not to climb any higher as Harry would probably sit in protest. On the drifting breeze I thought I heard a goat bleat, so I figured we’d slowly make our way in that direction.
Not 5 minutes into our walk, “Dad I want to go back to the truck”
There was a creek some 50m in front of us. “I think I heard a goat, let’s walk down to that creek”
“But I want to go back to the truck” Harry protested.
“I tell you what, how about if we drop down into the creek and if we don’t see anything, we’ll head back to the truck” It will be easier to walk down there because its flatter and look how green it is, we might even see a rabbit”.
“OK dad but only down to there, then that’s it !”…I had been told
Diana, the hunting goddess was smiling on me, as goats had fed out onto the green grass and Harry could see them. All of a sudden we had a focus and I think Harry’s tiredness took a back seat.
I whispered instructions to Harry as we stalked in, he was stalking just great, watching me and trying his best to copy my actions.
The goats had moved into the creek, it was almost like a rain forest with numerous birds flying around and goats bleating just ahead of us.
We left our packs at the huge gumtree next to the fence we’d just crossed and stalked into the edge of the creek for a look.
Using hand signals, I got Harry to wait quietly while I stalking in closer. I could see a young billy making his way out of the creek, if he continued on his path he would present me with a 30m shot. My hunting instincts took over and I was at full draw as the billy appeared from behind a bush, I released the arrow.
Just at the release time stood still. I was now very concerned, Harry was 10m behind me watching and waiting, learning with every second. Anyone who’s hunted goat knows that sometimes they carry on a bit when hit with an arrow and it was potentially the sound of a goat carrying on that concerned me because it might freak out Harry.
Dianna was definitely smiling on me this day. The arrow hit the billy and he didn’t make a sound, he ran off 30m and laid down.
I immediately went back to Harry, “Did you get him dad?”
“Yes buddy, we got our first goat together”…and I gave him a big hug.
We went back to our packs via cloud nine and had a drink.
“Let’s go see him dad”
“OK but we need to go slow and quietly, sometimes animals get a sudden burst of energy and run off”
Holding hands through the steep bit, I showed Harrison where the goat was. When I let go of his hand he was like a dog on a lead and keen to get there.
At that point I saw the goat lift up its head and knew he needed another arrow, I whispered to Harry that he needs to get behind me and to be super quiet. At 20m the goat decided to try and get up, automatically I let the second arrow go and the billy took two steps and laid down for the last time, thanks Diana.
Harry’s eyes were like dinner plates. I told him there would be blood so if he didn’t want to see it then tell me now.
“Let’s go and see dad”..was his reply
Harrison led the way, approaching the billy I heard “yuk.. look at the blood”
“Are you OK”
“yep”
“Just step over it”
I dragged the billy to a cleaner spot and propped it up for a photo, this was a very special moment for me that and had to capture it on film.
I told Harry that I would take some meat. I got Harry to sit on a large bolder and have a sandwich and drink or he could have a little walk around, but not to far.
I was well into removing the meat when I called out to Harry, I turned to see him looking at what I was doing via his binoculars sitting on the bolder.
I left the meat on sight, telling Harry I would come back letter to collect it. I also knew full well that I had a 20kg tired hunting buddy to piggy back, back to the truck and so I didn’t need to be wrestling meat as well.
Back at the truck we ate chips and had a drink and we glassed our beautiful environment looking at other goats on the opposite hill.
Harrison saw the two way radio on the dash and wanted to talk to his granddad to tell him the good news.
Eventually, the other team two turned up and Harrison re-told the story, particularly the blood bit.
Leaving Harry with his granddad and uncle I returned to the scene to collect the meat, which was a 15min round trip!
Before we’d driven through the last gate of the property Harry was asleep. Upon getting home I had to lift him out of the car and carry him inside, at which point he woke up sleepy eyed and moody.
His mum asked him how he went and he started to cry!
I immediately thought I’ve just blown it, I pushed him too hard to soon, he will never want to come hunting with me ever again… I was gutted.
His mum eventually got him to stop wailing and asked him what’s the matter? and in his half tearful voice said “Dad wouldn’t let me kill a goat !”.
To this day Harry tells me how much we love hunting and asks when we can go again.
